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SWOYERSVILLE - When local runners Jeff Skwierz and Chris Wadas met up last November to discuss their plans for the upcoming year, they decided they wanted to spend more time training together.

What would even be better, the pair reasoned, is having some other are runners who would like to train in a group setting on a regular basis.

With that, the two friends came up with the most logical solution they could think of.

They started their own running club.

"When Chris and I decided to do this, we wanted to do it our own way," said Skwierz, who serves as the president of the newly formed Susquehanna River Runners Club. "Our main thing was to offer runners something different than what they already have. We wanted to push group runs and have some different types of races."

With more than 40 active club members to date, the pair clearly struck a nerve in the local running community.

"We feel very positive about where our club is right now," said Wadas, the club's vice-president. "We felt the area needed something more interactive for our runners. We want to offer them something other than just races."

Those other things offered include twice-weekly group runs at Kirby Park, regular meetings at Murphy's Pub in Swoyersville, and training advice from Wadas, the head cross country and track and field coach at Misericordia University.

Wadas said the club decided to hold their meetings at Murphy's for simple reasons.

"It's close to both me and Jeff and the food is great," Wadas remarked before adding with a smile, "We chose Tuesdays because it's wing night."

So far, club members are thrilled with the progress they are making and happy to add a social element to a sometimes lonely, monotonous sport.

"Everyone is able to get better by training with us, regardless of their ability," said Mike Kinney of Wilkes-Barre, an avid runner and the club's secretary. "You get great training advice from Chris, you have people to run with, and we have a lot of fun doing it."

Saturday morning was a milestone of sorts for the club as it held its first road race. The 2-mile run began on the top of Slocum Street and continued through the streets of Swoyersville before finishing in front of Murphy's Pub.

Frank Redmond of West Pittston and Marina Orrson of Shavertown ran to sizzling first-place finishes in the men's and women's races, posting times of 9:46 and 11:06 respectively.

Both Redmond and Orrson are, in fact, Susquehanna club members. Redmond worked with Skwierz and Wadas from the beginning of the club's inception and now sits as the treasurer. Orrson, on the other hand, was a later addition to the club.

"I joined less than two weeks ago," Orrson said with a laugh. "I just finished my college career (at Misericordia) so it's great to be training with a club. It's definitely a benefit for me."

Fellow runners say having Orrson on board with them is a big benefit to the club as well.

"It's great for us having Marina to run with; she really pushes us," said club member Jill Matthews-Lada of Wilkes-Barre. "Ali (Schappert) and I have been training together for over a year and Marina fits in really well. She adds more speed to our training."

In all, 57 runners crossed the finish line Saturday. After the race, all competitors were treated to a free round of drinks as well as pizza and wings inside of Murphy's.

The club is far from finished with their racing plans. The next scheduled event is a track-and-field style running pentathlon at Misericordia on July 13.

"What we want to do is add to the market of local road racing," said Wadas. "We can offer people more things. This isn't built overnight but I feel really good about where we are and where we're headed."

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